(Image source: Sydney Morning Herald) 

BY CHRISTINE KARSTEN

ANCHOR ANA CAMPAIN ROMERO

As Rafael Nadal continues to rise, is Rodger Federer on the decline?

The two met once again as they faced off in the Australian Open Semifinals Thursday.

Nadal closed the match with a stretch to the corner of the court for the return.

Federer with the rebuttal but this time it went a little too long resulting in a win for Nadal.

ESPN says Nadal’s trick is patience.

“The last few matches he started to play very aggressive,and in the last match and in finals he never stops so, when Rodger plays like this the only thing you can do is watch him and wait for your moment.”

But is this match-up still-- what some sports analysts call-- the best men’s tennis rivalry of all time? Wall Street Journal Blogger Jeremy Gordon says it’s still a great match up, but notes-- these days Federer seems to always be a few steps behind.

“In the last few years, Federer’s looked like a mere mortal rather than the record-breaking Terminator he once resembled on the court, though it may yet be too early to declare that he won’t ever win another Grand Slam title.”

While another Grand Slam title might be in Federer’s future, Yahoo Blogger Chris Chase says, Thursday’s game was full of mistakes.

“Federer hit 63 unforced errors in the match...He had trouble putting away points that should have been his, then went for winners when he should have been content to let things play out.”

But maybe Federer isn’t on the outs and only seems to struggle when facing Nadal. The Sydney Morning Herald reports for Federer, Nadal is always the kryptonite.

“It is a hesitancy and a uncertainty in his play. He second guesses his movement and choice. Against Nadal he seemed to need to remind himself to get forward, to get to the net, to rumble Nadal's momentum, in ways that he does seemingly without conscious thought against others.”

The winner of the semifinal match between defending champion Novack Djokovic and Andy Murray Friday will play Nadal for the Championship Sunday.